Lubricating apparatus



June 2 1935 G. F. THoMAs ET A1. 2,042,970

LUBRICATING APPARATUS June 2, 1936- G. F. THOMAS ET AL 1 2,042,970

LUBRICAT ING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 41355 2 sheets-sheet 2 l 4 l' n y Patented June 2, `1936 UNITE!) sm'rlas PATENT @Price LUBmcA'riNG ArPAaATos George F. Thomas, Riverside, and Joseph Bystricky, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Stewart-Warner Corporatio Our invention pertainsto lubricating apparatus and is more particularly concerned with mechanism for controlling the discharge oi lubricant from the power-operated'lubricant com.

pressors commonly used in service stations and garages for lubricating the chassis bearings of automobiles. .w

Most of the chassis bearings of automobiles require only'smal1quantitiesof lubricant, whereas a few of the chassis -parts which require lubricant, such,'i`or example, as the steering gear mechanism, are located in housings which require large and indeterminate .quantities of lubricant. The small quantities of lubricant required by4 most of the chassis bearings vary somewhat with the size of .the automobile, and

in general it may be said that the bearings of.

thesmaller automobiles: require smaller quantities or shots than do the bearings of the larger automobiles.

An object of our invention isto provide control mechanism for .power-operated lubricant compressors which will permit the .operator to supply shots of predetermined quantities to those chassis bearings requiring only small amounts of lubricant and a continuous flow of lubricant with whichto .iill housings containing other parts requiring lubrication.

Another object is to provide control mechanism which may be quickly adjusted to give shots of lubricant of diii'erent sizes.

Another object is to provide control mechanism which may be easily operated even when the lubricant discharged by the lubricant compressor is supplied to the bearings under extremely high pressure.'

Another object is to provide control mechanism which may easily be adapted to lubricate the chassis bearings of automobiles through the diierent types of fittings now supplied as standard factory equipment.

Another object is to provide control mechanism having inlet and outlet valves of identical construction, thereby simplifying the servicing and repair of this mechanism.

Another object is to provide control mechanism which may bel readily disassembled to remove dirt or other obstructions from 'the valve mechanisms.

Another object is to provide control mechanism wherein the valves form sub-assemblies which may be easily and quickly removed and replaced.

Another object is to provide control mechanism which is simple and economical to manufacture and which is durable, eicient and easily operated.

Another object is to provide controimecha'- nism having an improved sealing means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View, partly in section, showing one form of our invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation showing an adaptation of our invention for lubricating the chassis bearings of automobiles through a diierent type of lubricant iitting; and

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of structure shown in Figure 2.

` Referring to Figure 1, we have illustrated our invention -as yprovided with a coupling member 5. having a cross-pin 6 with projecting` ends adapted to be engaged in the slots of the bayonet coupler commonly attached to the end of the iiexible discharge hose of the type of poweroperated lubricant .compressors now in common use in garages and service stations for lubricating `the chassis bearings of automobiles. The lock-nut l may be screwed against the end of the bayonet coupler to securely lock the bayonet part of the coupler and coupling member 5 together.

The coupling member 5 is attached to the end of a pipe nipple 8 leading to a release valve generally designated by reference numeral 9. A booster, indicated generally by reference numeral lli, is associated with and receives the lubricant passing through the release valve 9, and this booster in. turn is connected to a flexible discharge conduit Il having a. bayonet slotted coupler l2 adapted for making quick detachable connections with the pin ttings I3 permanently attached tothe chassis bearings of the automobile, one of which is indicated at lll.

'Ihe release valve comprises a body l5 having an opening `therethrough which is enlarged at one end to receive a guide i6. An operating lever il .is pivoted at i8 to a, pair of links i9 which in turn are pivoted to opposite sides of the upper end of the body I5, as indicated at. 2li.. The operating lever Il carries an adjustable screw 2i which may be locked in any adjusted position by locknut 22. The lower end of screw 2| has a rounded end which is received in the cup-shaped depression formed in the upper end of a short rod 23which is reciprocably mounted in the uppr end of the body l5.

A disk 2li, of ieather or other suitable sealing material, is located between the lower end of the rod 23 and the upper end of the valve actuating pin 25. The pin 25 is made of small diameter approximating three-sixteenths of an inch, Aand has a groove 26 for receiving a'C-shaped spring 21 which forms a shoulder for washer 23. The washer 23 receives the thrust of a spring 29 which rests against a shoulder provided by the guide I3.

The spring 29 normally maintains the pin 25 and rod 23 in upper position and holds the operating lever I1 away from the body I5. Op,- erating lever I1 has a slot 30 in which is located a stud 3I screwed into an opening provided in the upper end of the body I5. Outward movement of the operating lever I1 is limited by engagement between the lower -extremity oi! the slot 30 and the stud 3I.

The lower end of pin 25 is enlarged. as indicated at 32, to fit snugly inthe central restriction provided by guide I6. The enlarged por. tion 32 is provided with ats 33 which permit passage of lubricant past the enlarged portion 32 and the cylindrical bore oi.' the guide I6.

The lower portion 32 of the pin 25 is located immediately over the upwardly projecting stem of a valve member 34. The valvemember 34 has a semispherical lseating suriacewhich is held by spring 35 in engagement with the annular edge provided by valve seat member 33. Suitable gaskets, of leather, cork, or similar material. are located on opposite sides of the valve seat 36, and this valve seat and these gaskets are clamped in place between the lower end of guide I and the upper end of a sleeve 31 which is screwed into the lower end of the body I5.

The valve member 34, spring 35 and valve seat 36 form a sub-assembly which may be quickly and easily removed by simply unscrewing sleeve 31 from the end of body I5. When thus removed, this valve assembly may be quickly cleansed of any dirt which interferes with the seating of the valve, or the complete valve assembly will be replaced by a new one if the valve and its seat have worn tok such an extent as to A chamber 42 is provided between thek upper A end of the sleeve 33 and the valve seat 33.- The size of this chamber controls the amount of lubricant discharged in each shot, and this size can be varied by screwing the sleeve 33 inwardly or outwardly with respect to the sleeve 31. ,The

lower end of the sleeve 33 and the lower end of the sleeve 31 are provided with at or wrenchengaging portions to facilitate such adjustment. After the adjustment has been made, a lock-nut 43 is screwed tightly against the end of the sleeve 31 to firmly lock the sleeves 31 and 33 in adjusted position. A sealing gasket 44 is provided to prevent leakage.

In this form of our invention a pipe fitting 45 is screwed into a laterally extending opening provided in the upper endo! the body I5. This fitting 45 provides a shoulder against which a valve assembly 43 is held by a valve-retaining member 41 threadedly engaged with the tting 45. The valve assembly 43 is identical with the valve assembly comprising the valve member 34, spring 35 and valve seat 35, and. if desired, the two valve assemblies may be interchanged.

A nipple 43 connects one end of a booster cyl- 5 inder 43 with the pipe iitting 45, suitable gaskets being interposed to prevent leakage. A piston 50 is located in the cylinder 43 and is advanced by a stem 5I which threadedly engages cap 52 secured to the end of the cylinder 43. The stem 5I is provided with a handle 53 by means of which the stem may be manually rotated to advance the piston 53. A swivel 54 of conventional construction connects the iiexible discharge conduit II with the pipe iitting 45.

The operation of this form of our invention is as follows:

Assuming that the coupling member 5 is connected to the flexible discharge conduit of a power-operated compressor of the type which maintains the lubricant in the discharge conduit under the maximum pressure which Vthe compressor is capable of developing, the operator first connects the bayonet coupler I2 to the pin tting I3. If the'bearing is one which re- 25 quires only a small quantity oi' lubricant, the operator presses the lever I1 toward the body I5, thereby moving pin downwardly and opening valve member 34. The lever .I1 is moved to ward the body I5 until the valve member 34 30 engages and seals against the' upper end of valve member 39. Because of the strength ot spring 40 and the resistance to downward movement ofthe valve member 33, the operator is immediately apprized ot the fact that the valve member 34 has engaged the upper end oi valve member 39.

During this movement lubricant is displaced from the chamber 42 past the valve member 34 due to the inward movement of the valve member and also (to a slight extent to iiow of lubricant into this chamber 42 through the restricted bore 4I in valve member 39. The operator then releases lever I1 which permits spring 29 to return the lever'l1, rod 23 and pin 25 to their 45 original positions. At the same time spring 35 returns valve member 34 to closed position.

During this return movementfthere willrbe a slight additional discharge of lubricant due to ilow through bore 4I as the valve member 34 5o moves between the upper end of valve member 39 and valve seat 35. The lower end of valve member 34 and the upper end of valve member 39 are so formed that a seal is effected while these parts are held in engagement. 55

v The total amount of lubricant discharged in the foregoing operation is what we refer to as a shot/and i! the sleeves 31 and 33 are properly adjusted this shot provides sui'iicient lubricant to lubricate most oi the chassis bearings of an f automobile. When it isdesired to ll a housing or otherwise to provide more lubricant, the lever I1 is moved closer toward the body I5, thereby depressing valve member 33 and permitting a continuous iiow of lubricant past valve members 34 and 39 as long as the lever I1 is held in this position. When suicient lubricant has been supplied to the housing or other part, the lever I1 is released. whereupon valve members 34 and 39 are reseated and the ilow ot lubricant ceases. 70

Because ot the small diameter of pin 25. and valve member 34. little strength is required to operate the lever I1 either to provide a shot or i'or continous ilow. even whereuthe lubricant compressor is capable of developing vhigh preasures. The seal eil'ected by the leather disk 24 compressed between the ends of the rod 23 and pin 25, maintains an eiective seal under high pressure even where the parts are made of small diameter.

The booster III is only used on those comparatively rare occasions where the bearing is so badly clogged or frozen that the pressure developed by the lubricant compressor is insumcient to force fresh lubricant thereinto. The check valve assembly 46 prevents the lubricant pressure created in the booster from reaching the lubricant compressor.

In that form of our invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pipe iitting 45, booster I0, and discharge conduit I I, of Figure 1, are omitted, and in lieu of the pipe fitting 45V a tubular nut 60 is screwed into the lateral bore in the upper end of the body I5. This nut has a,shoulder 6I forming a valve seat which is normally closed by the tapered end offa wing nut 62.

In this form of our invention the stud 3i has y also been replaced by a rigid metal pipe 63 carryin'g a coupling member 64 for engagement with a nipple or tting 65 attached to a bearing 66. The coupling member 64 and fitting 65 are indicated as being of the type claimed in the application of Joseph Bystricky, Serial No. 661,713, filed March 20, 1933. As an alternative, these parts may be made in conformity with Zerk Patent No. 1,475,980, since equipment corre#- sponding` to this Zerk 'patent is also standard automotive equipment.

The wing nut 62 has a groove 61 whereby uncoupling of the coupling member 64 from the `itting 65 may be facilitated by relieving the pressure in the upper part of the body I5 and the pipe 63 by unscrewing the wing nut 62 a part of a turn.

The operation' of that form of our invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 is generally similar to the operation of the form shown in Figure 1,

so that no further description of the :node of operation of the form of our invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 is deemed necessary.

It is to be understood that we have illustrated but two of the various and numerous forms which our invention may take, and that the scope of our invention is limited `solely by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, control mechanism comprising a measuring chamber having an inlet and an outlet,

a discharge conduit communicatingl with said outlet, a valve normally closed to cut oil' communication between said chamber and said discharge conduit, a supply conduit communicating with said inlet, ay normally closed valve at said inlet, said valve having a restricted opening therein to provide limited communication between said supply conduit'and said measuring chamber and being openable to provide free communication between said supply conduit and said measuring chamber, and manual means for selectively opening one or both of said valves.

2. In lubricating apparatus of the class` described, control mechanism comprising a pair of normally closed valves having a measuring chamber therebetween, a discharge lconduit; connected with one of said valves and said chamber, and being normally cut o from said chamber by said valve, a supply conduit connected with the other of said valves and said chamber, said other valve having a restricted opening ytherethrough permitting limited communication between said supply conduit and saidchamber and being openable to provide free communication therebetween, means for adjusting the capacity of said chamber, and means for selectively opening on or both of said valves. 3. In mechanism of the class described, control means comprising a-pair of valvesl having a measuring chamber therebetween, supply and discharge conduits connected to said valves and said chamber, one of said valves being normally .closed to cut off communication between lsaid chamberand said discharge conduit, theV otherI conduit, and manual means for selectively open` ing one or both of said valves.

4. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, control means comprising a pair of normally closed valves'having a measuring chamber therebetween, supply and discharge conduits connected with said valves and said chamber, Aone of said valves having a restricted vpassageway therepast and being located between said meas--4 uring chamber and said supply conduit, and means for selectively opening one or both of s'aid valves.

5. In lubricating apparatus of the classdescribed, control means comprising a first valve, a second valve, means normally holding said valves in closed position, there being a measuring chamber located' between said valves, said second valve having a restricted passageway therepast, a supply conduit connected with said second valve and said chamber, a dischargev conduit connected with said first valve and said chamber, and means for opening said first valve and for moving it to a position to close the pas-- sageway past said second valve whereby lubricant from Asaid chamber may flow into said discharge therethrough, a spring for each valve, the spring for said valve having the restricted opening being stronger than the spring for said other valve, a supply conduit communicating with `said measuring chamber past said valve having the restricted opening, a discharge conduit communicatiug with said measuring chamber past the other valve, and manual means for selectively opening one or both of said valves.

'7. In lubricating apparatus of the class described, control means comprising a pair vof valves having a measuring chamber therebetween, a spring for each valve, oneof said springs being materially stronger than the other, the valve with the stronger spring having a normally open passageway therepast, a supply conduit communicating with said chamber through said lastnamed valve, a'discharge conduit communicating with said chamber past said oth .r valve, and

means for opening said other valve and posito said valve for opening said valve and moving said member to a position to close said inlet.

9. Control apparatus for hydraulic mechanism, comprising a body a handle carried by said body and movable relative thereto from a position of rest to either onevof two operating positions, a valve actuated by a short movement of said handle to one ol.' said operating positions to supply a predetermined quantity of a fluidlike substance, and means including said valve and a second valve operated upon a longer movement of said handle to a second operating position to provide a continuous discharge of a fluidlike substance.

10. In control apparatus of the class described, the combination of a body member providing a chamber, a unitary inlet valve assembly located at said chamber, means for supplying a fluid-like substance under pressure to said valve assembly, manual means for opening said valve against said pressure, a discharge conduit, a booster mechanism connecting the chamber in said body member with said discharge conduit, and a unitary valve assembly interposed between said chamber and said booster mechanism, said valve assemblies being removable, identical, and interchangeable.

11'. In control mechanism of the class described, the combination of a body member hav- .ing a passageway extending therethrough, a 'ilrst valve assembly removably mounted in said body to control the flow therethrough, a second valve assembly in said passageway adjacent said mst-mentioned valve assembly, means for supplying a uid-like substance under pressure to said last-mentioned valve assembly, manual means for iopening said valves in succession to permit iiow of the substance therepast, and an outlet valve assembly removably associated with said body member, said last-named valve assemblyy being interchangeable with said rstmentioned valve assembly.

12. In control mechanism of the class described, the combination of a body member having a. passageway therethrough, a pair of valves normally closing the inlet to said passageway, one of said valves having a restricted duct extending through it, means for opening said valves in succession, a discharge conduit connected to said body member, a coupling ymember attached to said discharge conduit and adapted for making avlubricant-tight connection with fittings attached to bearings requiring lubrication, means for supplying lubricant under pressure to said body member and discharge conduit, and valve means mounted in said body member for relieving the pressure therein and in said discharge conduit.

13. In control mechanism of the class described, the combination of a body having a passageway therethrough, one endof said passageway terminating in a bore of small diameter, a guide member located in the opposite end of said passageway, a valve assembly adjacent said guide member, a sleeve for retaining said valve assembly in position, a second sleeve adjustable relatively to said iirst-named sleeve, valve means associated with said second sleeve, means whereby said second sleeve may be adjusted relatively to said first-named sleeve, means for locking said sleeves in adjusted position, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a pin located in said passageway and having one end located in said small diameter bore and the opposite end located in said guide member, a

spring normally urging said pin in one direction, a leather disk located in said small diameter bore, a rod reciprocably mounted .in said small diameter bore and contacting with said disk, and an adjustable connection between said .j rod and said handle.

14. In control mechanism of the class described, the combination of a body having a passageway therethrough, one end of said passageway terminating in a bore of small diameter, a guide member located in the opposite end of said passageway, a valve assembly adjacent said guide member, a sleeve for retaining said valve assembly in position, a second sleeve adjustable relatively to said first-named sleeveI valve means associated with said second sleeve, means whereby said second sleeve may be adjusted relatively to said rst-named sleeve, means for locking said sleeves in adjusted position, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a pin located in said passageway and having one end located in said small diameter bore and the opposite end located in said guide member, a spring normally urging said pin in one direction, a leather disk located in said small diameter bore, a rod reciprocably mounted in said small diameter bore and contacting with said disk, an adjustable connection between said rod and said handle, coupling means connected to said second sleeve whereby lubricant under pressure may be supplied to said valve means and passageway, a discharge conduit connected to said passageway, valve means in said discharge conduit, said last-mentioned valve means being identical with said first-mentioned valve means, and coupling means on the end of said discharge conduit.

GEO. F. THOMAS. JOSEPH BYSTRICKY. 

